This week, we carry the first part of our factory price leagues.

The trend of the past few years is more pronounced than ever with specifications becoming equally important as carcase grade in the price equation.

Phelim O’Neill’s report shows factories at the top end of the scale paid more in 2016 for O= grading steers than those at the bottom end of the scale paid for R=.

In a marketplace where processors are becoming increasingly selective, it is important that farmers firstly understand the type of cattle that they have to sell and, secondly, which factories are most active in the market for that type of stock.

With up to a €100 price differential between in-spec and out-of-spec stock, the financial incentive to focus on weight and age at slaughter is significant.